Honda Unveils New Compact EV With Simulated Engine Sound

Apr 10, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Honda announced it will launch a new compact electric vehicle designed to appeal to dedicated car enthusiasts, with sales set to begin in late May.

The company revealed its new small EV, the "Super-ONE," highlighting efforts to deliver both performance and driving enjoyment in an electric format. By utilizing the chassis framework of a kei car, Honda was able to reduce the vehicle’s weight and improve acceleration performance.

The model offers five driving modes, including a high-output "Boost Mode" that features a simulated engine sound played through the car’s internal speakers, creating a more engaging driving experience for users.

The primary target demographic is men in their 50s, according to the company. Honda also plans to expand sales overseas, including in markets such as the United Kingdom and Australia.

Source: テレ東BIZ

Plaster Falls Off Walls of Himeji Castle Following Typhoon

A section of wall plaster and part of a roof eave were found damaged at Himeji Castle, the UNESCO World Heritage site in Hyogo Prefecture, on June 4th, with officials investigating whether strong winds from Typhoon Jangmi (Typhoon No. 6) were responsible.

Typhoon Jangmi Leaves Trail of Destruction Across Japan

Typhoon Jangmi (Typhoon No. 6) swept across Japan on June 3rd, bringing record-breaking rainfall, widespread flooding, landslides, transport disruptions, and powerful winds, while prompting Tokyo's first-ever issuance of a Level 4 danger alert under the country's new weather warning system. The storm also exposed challenges surrounding evacuation behavior, as many residents chose not to leave their homes despite official warnings affecting more than 1.6 million people across the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Body Found in River Identified as Suspect in Mother-Daughter Murder Case

A body discovered in a river in Tatsuno, Hyogo Prefecture, has been identified as 42-year-old Kenji Oyama, the suspect wanted nationwide in connection with the murder of a mother and daughter last month, police announced on June 4th.

Local Residents Struggle to Respond as New Disaster Warning

As Typhoon Jangmi (Typhoon No. 6) struck Wakayama Prefecture on June 3rd, the storm became the first major test of Japan's newly introduced disaster weather warning system, revealing both the benefits of earlier evacuation calls and the challenges local authorities faced in helping residents understand and respond to the new alerts.

Typhoon No. 6 Swamps Popular Ise Tourist Town

Flooding was reported around the popular tourist district of Oharai-machi in Ise City following the passage of Typhoon No. 6, with some businesses forced to clean up after floodwaters overflowed from a nearby river during the early hours of June 3rd.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Nissan Begins Taking Orders for U.S.-Built Murano SUV in Japan

Nissan Motor has begun accepting orders in Japan for the Murano sport utility vehicle, which is produced in the United States, marking one of the first uses of a new vehicle certification framework established following a tariff agreement between Japan and the United States.

Uber Targets New Users With Ride-Hailing Discounts

Uber Japan unveiled its latest strategy for its mobility business, including its taxi-hailing app operations, as the company seeks to expand its presence in a market where ride-hailing app usage remains lower than in many other countries.

U.S. Proposes 12.5% Additional Tariff on Japan

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced on June 2nd that it is considering imposing an additional 12.5% tariff on Japan, arguing that the country's measures to prevent the import of products made with forced labor are insufficient.

Foreign Workers Become Vital to Okinawa's Economy

As labor shortages deepen across Japan, more companies in Okinawa are turning to foreign workers not only to fill vacancies but also to build long-term careers, creating support systems that help employees settle into local communities and remain in the workforce.

Investors Shift Focus to Quantum Computing Stocks

Quantum computing is attracting growing attention from investors as governments around the world increase support for the technology, raising expectations that it could become the next major investment theme after artificial intelligence.

Toyota to Halt Production at 13 Domestic Plants as Typhoon No. 6 Approaches

Toyota Motor will suspend production at 13 domestic factories on June 3rd as Typhoon No. 6 approaches Japan, with the company prioritizing the safety of employees and contractors as severe weather is expected to affect a wide area from western to eastern Japan.

Japan's Flat 35 Mortgage Rate Tops 3% for First Time

The Japan Housing Finance Agency announced on June 1st the interest rates that will apply in June for Flat 35, Japan’s long-term fixed-rate housing loan program.

Inside ENEOS’s Global Expansion Strategy

ENEOS Holdings, Japan's largest oil refiner, is accelerating its push overseas as it seeks to raise the share of revenue generated outside Japan from roughly 20% today to 50% in the future, according to President Tomohide Miyata, who outlined the company's growth strategy in an extended interview that was not fully aired on TV Tokyo's World Business Satellite (WBS).

< 2 3 4 5 >